Mission Blue Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Cautious optimism surrounds the fate of the Mission Blue Butterfly.
Formerly relatively widespread on the San Francisco and Marin peninsulas, the
Mission Blue is now restricted to a few sites in these areas. On San Bruno
Mountain, in San Mateo Co., 2000 acres of critical habitat for the butterfly
is being managed by the county department of Parks and Recreation.

The butterfly's required habitat is known as coastal scrub, a
habitat type widely threatened in California. Late instar larvae of the
Mission Blue emerge from a dormant state in early spring as their host
plants, perennial lupines (Lupinus albifrons, L. variicolor,
and L. formosus), begin their spring growth cycle. The larvae
eventually enter the ground to pupate. Several weeks later, as the lupines
begin to flower, the adult butterflies emerge to feed on nectar, mate and
lay eggs. The eggs hatch within a few days and the larvae eat for a few weeks before they enter dormancy until the following spring when they will complete
their development.

Preservation of existing butterfly populations relies on many factors
common to butterfly conservation programs: replanting of host plants,
removal of introduced plants, and protection of habitat from excessive recreational
use and development. This program also illustrates a common problem in
endangered species conservation: practices which benefit the species of
concern are in some conflict with practices desireable from a human
standpoint. It is thought that the host lupines require periodic
disturbances in order to successfully reproduce, but many possible
disturbances such as fires and landslides are actively managed against in
areas designated for recreational use. Although management for such
multiple uses often proves difficult, in this case we may be hopeful.